Paul Godwin's Jazz from Berlin, 1932

Paul GODWIN (Pinchas Goldfein) born in Sosnowiec, (Upper Silesia, Poland) in 1902, died in 1982, Driebergen in Holland. Volinist and bandleader of one of most popular (and most prolific in recording) dance bands in Berlin of the Weimar Republic. As a teenager, he left Sosnowiec for Warsaw, where he took violin classes in Warsaw Conservatory. After his studies, he leaves for Berlin, to found his own dance band (Paul Godwin Tanz-Orchester or Paul Godwin Jazz Symphonikern). He recorded hundreds of sides for Grammophon. In 1933 he left Germany for Holland, where -- unfortunately, with minor results - he tried to continue his successful career. He also tried to perform in the classical music ensambles, yet his name fades in late 1930s and till today remains almost completely in oblivion.

Recording:
Paul Godwin Jazz Symphonikern - Ein bisschen Liebe für mich (Paul Abraham), Polydor 1932

ATTENTION: There's a mistake in the clip's title: the recording is under Polydor, not the Grammophon label!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Roaring
• Twenties
• German
• dance
• band
• Weimar
• Republic
• Paul
• Abraham
• 1920s
• 1930s
• nightlife
• cabaret

[kspm01]

This is yet another wonderful Berlin jazz tune from what probably were the most exciting years in Berlin's history... alas where are all those lovely classy sceneries gone (like Potzdamer Platz and so many others) ! Berlin was left shattered after the war and although I have seen similar pictures many times before it's heartbreaking over and over again.

[sigft25]

I feel the same: it's heartbreaking how such an imposing city like Berlin was ruthlessly turned to rubble by mass-murderers, along other glorious places like Dresden, Potsdam, &c...

It's even more unfair when you know many buildings were not totally destroyed by the bombings but were demolished shortly afterwards, like Palast Hotel in lovely Potsdamer Platz

[mrscambuster1001]

@RaananVolesPianist

Born Pinchas Goldfein in Sosnowiec, Poland

"But times changed in 1933 he took his last 8 Deutsch Mark and his 1713 Stradivarius violin, fled Germany and via Luxemborg to Holland. When in 1940 the Germans occupied the Netherlands, Godwin was not deported to a concentration camp because his wife as Arian, but had to work for the Nazis."

soundfountain D O T com/amb/godwin.html

[suaveoo]

Charming side - the song is British, "Leave a Little For Me" (from the Jack Buchanan musical feature "Yes Mr. Brown"). 1933. I didn't know the tune was recorded in Germany! Buchanan's own version has accompaniment by Ray Noble's HMV studio orchestra. Bravo for posting!

[jam454]

@sigft25 Your right the Nazis ruined Germany, but I find myself also getting a little irked at the British an Americans for bombing these beautiful civilian areas to rubble. Especially when the war was essentially already won. I think we should have used more discretion.

[Vesters1]

@sigft25 It's the germans own fault, that's for sure...

[RaananVolesPianist]

Unfortunately, I bet a lot of these musicians had to leave Berlin in a hurry not too soon afterward.

[asatro66]

Very very good !!

[HeadHunter131]

the grammophon-label is the same label like the Polydor-label. the german grammophone company sold their records in abroad under the name Polydor. Polydor and Grammophon = same recordings

[muscleco]

I always look for Paul Godwin green-label Polydors, but they are so scarce! I have only found a few in 48 years of collecting 78s.